He is having a film made about his life, making him a star in his own right
Real have decided against signing David de Gea from Manchester United
It represents a remarkable turnaround for Navas, who nearly left two years ago
There was another clean sheet for Keylor Navas on Thursday night – his part in a 0-0 against Panama in the Estadio Nacional de San Jose completed a remarkable week for him in which he had won the Champions League and Madrid briefed that they were no longer interested in signing David De Gea.
He’s even going to have a film made about his life – no wonder Madrid president Florentino Perez suddenly doesn’t seem to think he needs a Galatico goalkeeper, he already has a star between the posts.
The Colombian actor Matt Marquez has been given the role of playing Navas in the film 'Hombre de Fe' (Man of Faith) based on his life. Navas as a boy will be played by Jose David Coste, who comes from the same Perez Zeledon area of Costa Rica as Navas.
Navas’ wife Andrea Salas will be played by Valeria Mobley and Ricardo Cabanas, Navas’ agent, will play himself.
Madrid couldn’t get anymore Hollywood than this if they helicoptered De Gea down on to the pitch in his presentation as their most expensive keeper signing ever.
Navas was certainly treated like a film star when he arrived at the Juan Santamaria airport earlier this week to play his last match of the season before heading off for his holidays having decided to miss out on the CONCAFAF Gold Cup this summer and rest ready for next season.
That decision has pleased his club bosses at Real Madrid and is one of several reasons why they have privately briefed that they are no longer trying to sign De Gea.
‘I can still get even better,’ said the former Levante keeper, who will be 31 next December, as he prepared for the game.
He knows not to take anything for granted however. He had one foot out of the door two seasons ago when it seemed a formality that De Gea would sign and he would go to Old Trafford in part exchange.
He was turned around at the airport in tears of joy after being told De Gea’s move was off and he was staying.
Things could still go the other way this summer. De Gea is four years Navas’ junior and the club may still feel that he represents a better long-term proposition.
There are some suggestions in Madrid that leaking that they were out of the race was a ploy to drop Manchester United’s asking price.
The picture may become clearer as the haze of having just won the Champions League clears. But for the moment Perez appears to be intent on keeping Navas.
Perez is a big De Gea fan but if he does want to complete his signing he runs the risk of upsetting supporters by threatening the position of a hugely popular figure.
Zinedine Zidane is a big Navas fan too and when Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos went on holiday to Ibiza last week ahead of the Champions League final he went with two team-mates: Lucas Vazquez and Navas.
‘It’s always important that people believe in you. I owe Zidane a lot of thanks,’ said the goalkeeper.
One way of thanking him is to keep playing well and rewarding his faith. For now at least, it seems that Navas remains the leading man.
dailymail.co.uk
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